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Trump Tariffs Against China Take Effect

by Associated Press

   WASHINGTON --

   U.S. tariffs against Chinese imports took effect early Friday and
   President Donald Trump made clear Thursday that he is prepared to
   sharply escalate a trade war between the world's two biggest economies.

   The administration started imposing tariffs at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time
   Friday on $34 billion worth of Chinese imports, a first step in what
   could become an accelerating series of tariffs. China has promised a
   swift retaliatory strike on an equal amount of U.S. goods.

   Trump discussed the trade war Thursday with journalists who flew with
   him to Montana for a campaign rally. The president said U.S. tariffs on
   an additional $16 billion in Chinese goods are set to take effect in
   two weeks.
   After that, the hostilities could intensify: Trump said the U.S. is
   ready to target an additional $200 billion in Chinese imports -- and
   then $300 billion more -- if Beijing refuses to yield to U.S. demands
   and continues to retaliate.

   That would bring the total of targeted Chinese goods to potentially
   $550 billion, which is more than the $506 billion in goods that China
   actually shipped to the United States last year.
   The Trump administration has argued that China has deployed predatory
   tactics in a push to overtake U.S. technological dominance. These
   tactics include cyber-theft as well as requiring American companies to
   hand over technology in exchange for access to China's market.